I recently attended the National Parks Association of the ACT, ‘Bushfire Management: Balancing the Risks’ Forum.

The session outlined the good work that the ACT undertakes in monitoring and managing fuel build up within our borders. However, it came to my attention that to take appropriate action in preparation for the fire season and protect the ACT from bushfire emergency, we need to ensure we have adequate information coming from across our borders in NSW about the conditions there. They also need to be managing fuel build up in the areas close to the ACT border.

I understand that there is good liaison between the ACT and NSW, but it is also my understanding that the NSW authorities have few people and facilities on the ground near the ACT border. We of course know that traditionally bushfires have come from NSW into threaten the ACT.

We need more information about bushfires approaching us and to do this we need to work more closely and support NSW efforts.

Would you consider establishing an understanding between the ACT and NSW – like the way the ACT and Region Catchment Management Coordination Group works in the ACT and region? This would enable the ACT to monitor parts of NSW on our borders to better manage the risks like fuel build up and obtain more information when bushfires are approaching the region.

Bushfire risk is an issue I am personally familiar with as I am a resident in the western part of Kambah where 18 houses were lost in the 2003 bushfires and we currently have two fire trailers parked in our area.